OBU-Shawnee Community Orchestra Concert April 13

April 8, 2010

The OBU-Shawnee Community Orchestra will present its ninth season spring concert Tuesday, April 13, in Oklahoma Baptist University's Raley Chapel at 7:30 p.m.

The orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Jim Hansford, will present works by Jean Sibelius, Aaron Copland, Igor Stravinsky, Mozart, Beethoven, Elena Roussanova Lucas and Steven Bryant. The free concert will be in the chapel's Potter Auditorium.

The OBU-Shawnee Community Orchestra, launched in 2001, will present its ninth annual spring concert Tuesday, April 13 in OBU's Raley Chapel at 7:30 p.m.

Hansford, who has conducted the ensemble since its inception, is OBU's Patterson professor of music and director of bands. He joined the university's faculty in 1990.

Also on the concert program will be a performance by the MacArthur Quartet, a string quartet in joint residence at the University of Oklahoma and OBU. The group's members serve as principal players in the orchestra. They are Martin Dalton and Nan Lu, violins; Mari Canabarro, viola; and Philipp Gulidov, cello.

"These outstanding students are pursuing either a master's or doctoral degree in performance at the University of Oklahoma," said Hansford.

The quartet will perform two works: Presto, from Mozart's String Quartet No. 3, and the second movement of the Beethoven String Trio, No. 2, Andante quasi Allegretto.

Orchestral works on the program include: "Dusk" by Steven Bryant, "Finlandia" by Jean Sibelius, "Corral Nocturne" from Rodeo by Aaron Copland, "Tatarian Dances" by Elena Roussanova Lucas, "The Can-Can" from Orpheus in the Underworld" by Jacques Offenbach, "Two English Idylls" by George Butterworth, and "Berceuse and Finale" from Firebird Suite by Igor Stravinsky.

The OBU-Shawnee Community Orchestra divides almost equally between OBU students and community musicians. About half of the 50-member ensemble comes from surrounding communities, including McLoud, Ada, Norman, Oklahoma City, Tecumseh, Choctaw, Edmond, Harrah, Dale, Okmulgee, and Shawnee. The remaining members are OBU students, including many music majors.

The orchestra's string section is comprised of more than 20 players. The group includes a full complement of standard orchestral wind and percussion sections. Orchestra members range in age from 17 to 80 years old. They represent a wide range of professions including educators, private music teachers, OBU staff members, and a retired cardiologist.

The first public appearance of the SCO was at the 2001 OBU "Hanging of the Green" program, where it performed the Ralph Vaughan Williams work, "Fantasia on Greensleeves" in addition to other Christmas program pieces.

The community orchestra was organized in the fall of 2001 with assistance from a grant by the Kirkpatrick Foundation in Oklahoma City. The grant became a reality through the work of Dr. Paul Hammond, dean of OBU's Warren M. Angell College of Fine Arts. The orchestra currently is supported by donors from the Shawnee community and funding is provided to support the MacArthur Quartet.

Hansford, a respected educator-conductor for more than 40 years, is active as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator in public schools and churches in the Southwest. He earned a bachelor's degree in music education from the University of Southern Mississippi. He completed master of music education and Ph.D. degrees in music from the University of North Texas. His teaching experience includes seven years in the public schools of Brazosport and Denton, Texas, and 36 years at the university level including posts as director of bands at Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Wayland Baptist University.

In addition to conducting numerous high school regional honor bands in Texas and Oklahoma, he has conducted the Kentucky Baptist All-State Orchestra and the Texas Baptist All-State Band on three occasions. He has served as conductor of the Oklahoma Baptist All-State Symphonic Band, including tours to England and British Columbia and national travel to Boston, Mass., and Phoenix, Ariz.